Monica Bhatia, head of the Global Forum Secretariat at the OECD, Radhanath Housden, head of the AEOI Unit at the Global Forum and Adrian Wardzynski, policy adviser at the Global Forum, highlight the steps governments are taking worldwide to share data, taking a giant leap from information on request to automatic exchange.

The taxpayer challenges arising from the EU’s directive on mandatory disclosures for intermediaries (DAC 6) are seemingly countless, writes Christian Kaeser, global head of taxes at Siemens, and Mark Orlic and Arne Schnitger of PwC.

International Tax Review’s Global Tax 20 highlights the most influential people, events and companies which have had an impact on the global tax landscape during the past year. Joe Stanley-Smith introduces the Global Tax 20.

Kering’s Group Tax Director Sophie Maddaloni explains how the group’s corporate structure has enabled it to transform from a timber and construction specialist, to a distribution business, to the luxury goods group it is today.

November 2018

Facebook and Google emphasised the importance of international consensus on changes to the international tax system to tax the digital economy and the scope of value creation during an EU Parliament committee hearing.

The cum-ex and cum-cum schemes that defrauded EU financial hubs of billions of euros continue to exist in other forms across Europe. An investigations unit and stricter laws could be introduced to tackle the fraud following a parliamentary vote.

Jurisdictions are beginning to create ‘synthesised texts’ to help taxpayers understand how the OECD’s multilateral instrument (MLI) interacts with bilateral double tax treaties, but some believe they do not offer the legal clarity taxpayers seek and risk future disputes.

October 2018

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s Global Head of Tax Elizabeth Bradley and US Tax Partner Philip Wright tell International Tax Review about how they merged the two old firms’ tax teams strategically by finding a compatible culture and work policy.

Companies can vote now for the best tax firms for transactional and advisory services. We only take answers from clients because they alone can determine the true value of the advice they have received from a firm.

There has been a seismic shift in global politics in recent years, affecting trade and investment and altering the tax landscape. Anjana Haines reviews the tax prospects in this new era with International Tax Review’s Leading Women in Tax.

Sophie Chatel, head of the OECD’s tax treaties unit, Liz Chien, vice-president of global tax for Ripple Labs, and Conrad Turley, of KPMG, set out their arguments for the right way to tax digital businesses.

International Tax Review’s Leading Women in Tax Forum in London shone a spotlight on how building inclusive teams, empowering others and using your network can create an environment where everyone can thrive. Anjana Haines shares some highlights from the day’s discussions.

I don’t know if it is because of my age, or not using social media much, or because I have spent more than 30 years advising companies that actually manufacture physical goods and sell them to customers, but I don’t really understand the current enthusiasm on the part of the OECD, the EU and governments to investigate ways to change the taxation of the ‘digitalised’ economy.

Competition in the consumer goods sector has always been intense and once-traditional retailers are now using an omnichannel strategy in an attempt to keep up with consumer-packaged-goods companies and online superstores like Amazon or Zalando. What is omnichannel retailing?

The UK runs the risk of losing out on corporate tax revenue if Brexit means the loss of passporting rights and major banks decide to leave. This could become the impetus to raise taxes across the economy.

Global revenue from carbon pricing rose by 50% in 2017 compared to 2016, says a new report from the World Bank. While companies can expect green taxes to keep rising, this statistic doesn’t quite tell the whole story.

The BEPS Project and the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) are forcing some companies into restructuring, according to a new survey. But many are still waiting for more clarity before they decide their next move.

Germany and France have agreed to move the European Union towards a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB), which would transform tax in the bloc. But the measure is not popular everywhere in the EU.

May 2018

UK proposals to separate tax and audit functions within the Big 4 accounting firms will not make a difference to the market or the way businesses choose their advisers, a tax director at a major fintech company has told International Tax Review.

Germany’s new finance minister seems to have arced in terms of his political progression, starting out as a left-leaning gymnast in the 1980s and evolving into a mainstream politician whose views largely mirror those of his predecessor, Wolfgang Schaeuble.

April 2018

Mike Bernard, former Microsoft tax counsel, talks to ITR about his experience at Microsoft, how the tax department functioned, and how he will help MNEs use data to be audit-ready in his new role at Vertex.

The US Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other countries’ responses to it, the BEPS project, various exchange of information agreements, incoming tax treaty changes and national elections are just a few of the obstacles ensuring that tax professionals have plenty of planning on their plates in 2018.

The OECD’s David O’Sullivan opened ITR’s Indirect Tax Forum by talking about the role which web companies can play in collecting VAT and GST. Subscribers and delegates can download his presentation – and those of other speakers, including the EU’s Maria Teresea Fábregas – here.

Following the ECJ ruling in the Deister Holding and Juhler Holding joined cases, the German financial authorities have published a circular invalidating a section of the German Income Tax Act effective from 2007-2011, and softening the provisions applicable today.

HMRC is poised to sign an industry-wide agreement with marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay to create a disclosure scheme for VAT evasion. The deal is expected to come out on April 24, and it will give the UK tax authority access to huge amounts of transaction data with overseas sellers.

Should we ignore the bitcoin speculative bubble and hacking scare stories as the fireflies before the technological storm? Could blockchain solve the EU’s €50 billion ($62 billion) VAT fraud menace, and revolutionise tax reporting?

March 2018

French boutique law firm, Villemot, Barthès & Associés (VB&A), has joined WTS Global as a member firm, expanding the international tax network’s presence in France. At the same time Jean-Laurent Anglade is joining as a partner in the corporate tax advisory practice at WTS France.

International Tax Review hosted its first Women in Tax Forum in New York on March 1. The event kick-started a month of celebrating the brilliant female minds in the sector, their take on some of the hottest tax matters, and insight into their leadership skills and how to be the best.

Businesses love certainty. It allows them to plan and act on short, medium, and long-term strategies. The unexpected brings operational complexities they do not need. Recently, as taxation of the digital economy gathers pace it is a case of ‘expect the unexpected’ for digital businesses operating globally. Taxamo’s Iman Deschâtres and JP McCarthy explore the topic.

ITR's research team has begun work on the Tax Controversy Leaders guide, Indirect Tax Leaders guide and Women in Tax Leaders guide. This is your chance to nominate the individuals who offer the best tax advice.

Judging by the speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos, political and business leaders are concerned by the changing dynamics of international tax competition and there can be no doubt that the ‘race to the bottom’ is on.

Despite global M&A volume exceeding $3 trillion for the fourth consecutive year, there can be no doubt that uncertainty has affected the transactional market during the past year, and will continue to do so in 2018, but this isn’t to say that all of its effects will be negative.

Litigation between taxpayers and authorities is growing worldwide, but a successful outcome is never easy for any party involved in a conflict. Anjana Haines investigates why tax disputes are rising and how to potentially ease the burden.

DLA Piper has appointed Sylvie Vansteenkiste, Raphaël Béra and Fanny Combourieu as partners at its Paris-based tax team. The three tax professionals have joined the team alongside four associates and one of counsel.

January 2018

The European Commission’s Director General for Taxation and Customs Union tells International Tax Review about how the European Commission is pushing ahead with its plans for a digital tax framework, how it will work with OECD initiatives, and the emerging industries and technologies making their mark.

The work of corporate tax departments over the next 12 months will be dominated by large international changes such as the BEPS project, US tax reform and shifting attitudes toward taxation of the digital economy. Joe Stanley-Smith explores what companies can do to stay ahead of the curve.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, of robots is an issue of global significance. Xavier Oberson, professor at the University of Geneva and a specialist in this area examines the societal change towards the use of robots and how to tax them.

The number of tax treaty disputes increased for more than 65 jurisdictions in 2016, according to the OECD’s peer review. This may offer insights into how well the world is adjusting to the changes posed by BEPS Action 14.